Thank You to Supporters of the Tourism Skills Training Program - Cohort 1

Written By Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association
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On May 6, 2021, the first cohort of graduates from TOTA’s Tourism Skills Training Program came together to celebrate with a virtual graduation ceremony. After two months of online instruction, 4 certificates, +240 hours of mentorship meetings, employment coaching, and job placement support, 46 participants graduated, ready to deliver domestic tourism experiences and hospitality services.

The program was a great success, with the online format enabling TOTA and UVIC to connect with a large number of participants from their homes throughout the Thompson Okanagan region, from Clearwater to Osoyoos, Keremeos to Christina Lake, and many communities in between.

Students learned about Tourism and Hospitality trends, regional experiences, and the delivery of day-to-day guest service, including an overview of Indigenous tourism, accessible tourism, and sustainable tourism from a diverse roster of tourism experts.

The virtual Job Fair & Open House introduced program participants to 20 potential employers in the Thompson Okanagan Tourism industry, leading to 200+ connections.

Students completed the following certifications:

Thank You To The Program Supporters

The program came at a time when many of the participants were in search of next steps, resources, and a sense of connection, due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism industry. The training program was offered to participants free of charge, in cooperation with the University of Victoria-Peter B. Gustavson School of Business and supported by the Province of British Columbia.

We would like to express a heartfelt 'thank you' to the facilitators, guests speakers, mentors, and job fair employers who supported this program and the participants:

Facilitators & Guest Speakers

Participants received 288+ hours of instruction from 30+ instructors with expertise in Tourism & Hospitality Industry Trends, the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Region, Tourism Career & Professional Development, and other required areas of knowledge to enable participants to provide exceptional tourism experiences in the Thompson Okanagan region.

 

University of Victoria: Peter B. Gustavson School of Business

  • Avril Matthews

  • Dr. Brent Mainprize

  • Martin Rissley

  • Christian Van Buskirk

Domestic Tourism Industry

Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA)

  • Ellen Walker-Matthews

  • Barbara Bonnough

  • Adam Kunis

  • Amy Kneller

  • Elizabeth Neef

  • Kaitie Worobek

  • Kavan Kumar

  • Chelsea McGonigal

  • Mike Overend

  • Sonja Gaudet

  • Thivya Viswanathan

  • Terrina Barsalou

Symphony Tourism Services, a subsidiary of TOTA

  • Kelly Galaski

  • Shelby Campbell

 

Mentorship Program

Industry support is essential to help up and coming tourism professionals achieve success as they journey down the path of their career. Over 8 weeks, mentors connected with budding tourism professionals to share career insights and encouraging words. Participants connected with a mentor through weekly meetings or calls, resulting in +240 hours of mentorship.

 
 

Job Fair & Open House

The virtual Job Fair & Open House introduced program participants to 20+ potential employers in the Thompson Okanagan Tourism industry, leading to 200+ connections.

 
Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association
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